In an interview with FRANCE 24, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the most important issue for Europe now was to give Spain and Italy the medium-term financial backing they needed to conduct reforms.

Speaking to France24’s Markus Karlsson, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said that "the world was waiting for Europe to save Europe". While he conceded people would be watching Sunday’s Greek election closely, he stressed that the crucial issue facing economic bloc was securing financial backing for Spain and Italy to undertake necessary reforms.

Asked about leadership, he said that it would be “significant for Europe” if France and Germany took a lead role, adding that France had a strong role to play, as long as it did not take steps that would “weaken its economy and compound the problem”.